Swiss Medtech Report 2012 - Medtech Switzerland

eing made at the ZHAW Wädenswil with the organomimetic
skin model production based on a novel
bioprinting technology.
NECEssITY DRIvEs INvENTION Incorporating
novel technologies is not only a choice, but
also a necessity. For instance, nowadays many surgeons
rely on AM models of bones or tissue to develop
strategies for their operations. When designing
a new device it can be difficult to explain or even
to visualize a design from a 3D drawing. But when
a client can hold a physical object they will quickly
grasp the essentials of the idea and AM only needs a
few hours to produce this effect. Few things rival the
experience of handing over a new device to engineers
and designers so that they can feel if the shape
is to their liking, if joints can easily be attached
and if the device is really user-friendly. AM offers
a fast way for a manufacturer to communicate a
new device to both patients and doctors and receive
instant feedback concerning functionality, appearance
and color before a single device is built.
Prototyping processes like milling or vacuum forming
also have great potential. Sophisticated 5-axis
automation systems are developed exclusively for
the efficient handling and milling of dental blanks.
With the blank milled in the absolute center of the
machine, an optimal cutting force is ensured, while
high-performance servo and torque motors guarantee
dynamics and speed.
Institutions which might be of interest to you
MedTec
16
Andres AG
4573 Lohn-Ammannsegg
www.andresag.ch
Borer Chemie AG
4528 Zuchwil
www.borer.ch
Cendres+Métaux SA
2501 Biel/Bienne
www.cmsa.ch
ERAM AG
4123 Allschwil
www.eram.ch
Ivers-Lee MedTec AG
3400 Burgdorf
www.ilmedtec.com
It’s most telling that a company like Medtronics
Sofamor Danek, world leader in spinal and cranial
medical technologies, has in-house access to a FDM
(fused deposition modeling) machine, which is not
only appreciated by their medical technologists,
but also cuts down on miscommunication.
FUTURE COMPETITIvENEss Additive
technologies are developing consistently from pure
prototyping methods to cost-effective production
methods. At the international level, topics like AM
are now strongly recommended for total quality
management purposes. “It is not only the medtech
branch, but also patients who benefit from AM,”
states Ralf Schindel, director of the IRPD. “Patientspecific
models for pre-surgical planning and drill
templates assure that knee implants are aligned correctly
and make an intervention quicker and safer,
reducing the risk of infection.”
AM offers great potential for the direct manufacturing
of patient-specific implants on the basis of CT
and MRI data. This fabrication technology makes
nearly every product design possible. A pioneer in
this field is the University of Missouri-Colombia,
as Ralf Schindel comments: “For a number of
years, the researchers have been creating blood
vessels consisting of endothelium, muscle and fibroblast
cells with ‘organ printing’, an additive process.
Therefore: think additive!”
KKS Ultraschall AG
6422 Steinen
www.kks-ultraschall.ch
MEDMIX SYSTEMS AG
6343 Rotkreuz
www.medmix.ch
MULTIVAC Export AG
6331 Hünenberg
www.multivac.com
RIWISA AG
5607 Hägglingen
www.riwisa.ch
Wandfluh Produktions AG
3714 Frutigen
www.wandfluh.ch